Drunken Driver Asks For Freedom

Pa. Man's Best Friend Died In Crash After Eight Beers

WESTMINSTER — A 28-year-old Pennsylvania man whose drunken driving led to the death of his best friend asked a Carroll County judge yesterday to release him from prison before his four-year sentence is up.

Scott Allen Krebs of East Berlin, Pa., had pleaded guilty in January to automobile manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license in a June 1990 crash that killed John Wesley "Wes" Reaver of Wentz Road in Manchester.

On March 20, Circuit Judge Francis M. Arnold sentenced Krebs to four years in prison. The construction worker could have received up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Krebs appeared teary and remorseful in court yesterday, saying he is sorry for the accident that killed the 30-year-old father of two.

"I have had a lot of time to think about what happened," said Krebs. "I have thought of a million ways to say how sorry I am."

Reaver died of multiple injuries after being ejected from the car during the 5 p.m. accident on Stoney Lane near Tracey's Mill Road. Reaver was the sole passenger in Krebs'car.

Two people on Stoney Lane told police they saw Krebs speeding minutes before the accident. After the crash, Krebs took beer bottles and cans from the car and hid them near a creek, court records show.

Krebs ran to nearby neighbor's home and disappeared from the area of the crash, court records show.

Police used helicopters, K-9 dogs and four-wheeled vehicles to look for Krebs. He turned himself in later that night, accompanied by a Pennsylvania state trooper.

Astate police investigator determined that Krebs was driving about 40mph on the one-lane dirt road before the accident.

Krebs told Maryland state trooper George Prager that Reaver was driving at the timeof the accident.

Krebs also told the trooper he had seven or eight beers for lunch that day, along with drinks after work, court records show.

On the witness stand yesterday, Krebs said he was attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings in prison and that he "doesn't want anything to do with alcohol or driving illegally."

Krebs said that if he was released from prison, he would give part of his paycheck to Reavers' widow to take care of Reaver's twochildren.

Krebs' sister, Connie Krebs of Westminster, testified that every time she visits her brother in prison, he appears to be "onthe brink of a breakdown" over the accident.

Krebs' attorney, Daniel Wolfson of York, Pa., told the court that while the accident was a tragedy for Reaver, it was "equally a tragedy for Krebs."

Wolfson said Krebs "has lived every day with this punishment." He added that "it's time to start healing this matter because Scott has to renew or rekindle his life."

Assistant State's Attorney Kathi Hill argued that Krebs' sentence was fair and just and that it should remain intact.

She said his tearful apologies still left many questions unanswered, including the reason he ran away from the scene and left hisfriend to die alone.

Arnold is expected to hand down a decision on the request for a sentence reduction in the next few weeks.